Childhood

Michael Reid was born on 22nd May 1886 in the townland of Skirteen in the parish of Monasterevin, County Kildare, Ireland. He was the son of Mary Reid, formerly Cleary, and her husband John Reid, a mason and bricklayer. Michael was the second of their three sons, but his older brother had died as a baby before Michael was born, making him effectively the eldest of two boys. When Michael was born, three of his grandparents were still alive, all of whom were living at Monasterevin at that time. His paternal grandfather, another John Reid, died in November 1887, after which Michael's paternal grandmother left Monasterevin to live with her daughter in Dublin. Michael's maternal grandfather, Maurice Cleary, died at Skirteen in 1893. Michael would later recount to his own grandchildren stories he was told by Maurice. Apparently Michael had once tried to smoke Maurice's pipe and found it disgusting. Over in Dublin, Michael's paternal grandmother Julia Reid died in 1896.

Michael at about the time he left Ireland and moved to London.

The 1901 census finds Michael living with his parents and younger brother Joseph at Coolnafearagh, the neighbouring townland to Skirteen. He was described as a scholar. Both Michael and Joseph were said to be able to speak Irish and English, whereas their parents could only speak English. Perhaps the Irish language was taught at the local school.

Adulthood

In 1906, aged 20, Michael began his career as a teacher. He initially went to work at Mount St Joseph School in Roscrea, County Tipperary. In 1908 he left Ireland and moved to London to complete his teacher training at St Mary's Teacher Training College at Brook Green in Hammersmith, whilst working at Our Lady of the Rosary School. The 1911 census finds Michael lodging with a couple called Joseph and Jane Rasey at Formosa Street in the Paddington area of London.

Michael continued working at Our Lady of the Rosary School until 1915, a few months after the outbreak of the First World War. His teaching records make clear that he was engaged in war service between 1915 and 1919. Military records confirming his service have not been found, but family recollection has it that he served in the British Army and was engaged for part of the war at Bantry Bay in Ireland running search lights for the Atlantic conveys bringing supplies from America. He is also said to have spent some time in a military hospital at Chatham in Kent.

After the war, Michael returned to London and resumed teaching, this time at St Mary's Boys' School in North Kensington, where he would eventually become headmaster. He also returned to live with the Raseys, who by 1922 were living at 5 Peploe Road in Willesden. The landlady there was a widow named Margaret Sweeney. On 27th July 1922 Michael married his landlady's daughter, Mary Sweeney. Michael was 36 when he married, and Mary had just turned 40.

Michael (seated, left) at his brother Joseph's marriage in 1927 in Dublin.

Michael and Mary continued living with her mother at 5 Peploe Road. They had a daughter Mary in 1925, but sadly she died when only nine days old. In 1927 they had another daughter, who would be their only child to survive infancy. Mary was 45 by the time her surviving daughter was born.

Back in Ireland Michael's parents were still alive when their only surviving granddaughter was born, but his mother died the following month and his father died the following year. Michael stayed in touch with his brother Joseph in Ireland, and in 1927 attended his brother's marriage in Dublin.

Michael and Mary shortly after they married, at their allotment in Kilburn.

Between 1928 and 1929 Michael and Mary, their daughter and Mary's mother Margaret Sweeney left 5 Peploe Road and moved out to 73 Cecil Avenue in Wembley. They would be joined there at different times by several of Michael's relatives, notably his Doyle cousins from Ireland. The family lived at 73 Cecil Avenue for about 30 years, with a break during the Second World War.

When the Second World War broke out Michael's school was evacuated. As headmaster he was evacuated with the school and was allowed to take his wife and daughter with him. They were evacuated initially to Urchfont in Wiltshire, then Paignton in Devon. The house at 73 Cecil Avenue was let out whilst they were gone. Apparently whilst they were gone a bomb fell in its back garden but did not explode.

Towards the end of the war the family returned to London. Unable to regain possession of 73 Cecil Avenue from their tenants at first, they had to live with Michael's cousin James Doyle, who ran a sweet shop at 160 Tollington Park Road in the Finsbury Park area and had a flat above the shop. They later returned to 73 Cecil Avenue.

Michael's daughter married in 1953, and shortly afterwards left London altogether moving out to Luton, where all Michael's four grandchildren were born.

Mary died in 1957, aged 74. After her death Michael moved to Luton to be near his daughter's family. He lodged around the town for a time, before eventually moving in with his daughter's family. He died in Luton on 12th December 1973, aged 87.

Birth Registered in the district of Monasterevin in the Superintendent Registrar's District of Athy in the County of Co. KildareNo. 247Date of Birth: 1886 Twenty Second MayPlace of Birth: SkirteenName: MichaelSex: MaleName and Surname and Dwelling-Place of Father: John Reid, SkirteenName and Surname and Maiden name of Mother: Mary Reid formerly ClearyRank or Profession of Father: Operative Stone MasonSignature, Qualification and Residence of informant: Mary Reid, mother, SkirteenWhen Registered: Twenty Eighth June 1886Signature of Registrar: Joseph Storey, Registrar